Head-set apparatus for training horses

ABSTRACT

A head-set apparatus for training a horse including an enclosure frame for receiving the horse and a linear member, having connector means at each end, one of the connector means being detachably connected to the horse&#39;s head harness, while the other connector means is detachably and adjustably connected to some portion of the frame for holding the horse&#39;s head in a desired attitude. The head-set apparatus may include one or two arm members, preferably mounted upon the frame for movement fore and aft, the linear member connecting the horse&#39;s head to the arm members. The arm member is preferably provided with means for biasing the arm member rearward against the forward pull of the horse&#39;s head through the linear member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 364,632, filedMay 29, 1973, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,961, issued July 23, 1974.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a horse training apparatus, and moreparticularly to an apparatus for training a horse to perform particulargaits.

In the training of horses, and particularly a Tennessee Walking Horse,the horse is taught to perform his various exercises by the trainerriding astride the horse. Unless there are two trainers, one astride thehorse and one on the ground, it is difficult for a single trainerastride the horse to observe the progress of the horse and theappearance of the gaits.

U.S. Pat. No. 882,584 of Rausmussen and French Pat. No. 613,168illustrate harnesses adapted to be supported upon the horse for trainingthe horse to arch his neck.

However, to the applicant's knowledge, there is nothing in the prior artto train a horse, while walking within an enclosure, including ahead-set device connecting the horse's head harness to the enclosureframe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an apparatus forteaching or training horses various gaits, and particularly the gait ofa Tennessee Walking Horse, while the horse is walking relative to anenclosure frame, with the trainer having the option of observing theprogress of the horse without being astride the horse.

A head-set device is swingably mounted upon the frame and yieldablysupported above the horse to arch the horse's neck through reinsconnecting the bit of the horse's bridle to various adjusted positionsupon the head-set device.

The head-set device made in accordance with this invention can alsoinclude one or more elongated linear members having detachableconnectors at opposite ends, such as flexible cross-ties. One of theends is detachably connected to the horse's head harness, such as to thebridle bit, while the opposite end is adapted to be detachably connectedby appropriate connector means to various portions of the enclosureframe to set or hold the horse's head in a predetermined attitude whilehe moves through his paces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus made in accordance with thisinvention, illustrating a horse in operative position for learning thegaits of a Tennessee Walking Horse;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, withthe horse removed and with parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the rear portion of theapparatus illustrating a modified striding device;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the transverse stridingbar and its mounting means,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of a front portion of the framesupporting some cross-tie straps;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of a head-setdevice;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation disclosing the side baradjustably supported in an elevated position;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the hook memberconnection of two of the padded belt members;

FIG. 11 is a section taken along the line 11--11 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the pedal step devicesoperating upon the front feet of a horse;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary front elevation of one of the pedal stepdevices illustrated in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of the gait synchoronizingdevice attached to the apparatus and to the horse; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary top plan view of the synchronizing deviceillustrated in FIG. 14.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, a horse 10 is illustratedin phantom, in FIG. 1, harnessed in position in the training apparatus11 for teaching the horse 10 to execute various paces or gaits, such asthe gait of a Tennessee Walking Horse.

The apparatus 11 includes a base frame 12 adapted to rest upon a levelsurface, such as the ground, and supporting an enclosure frame 13 forthe horse 10. The enclosure frame 13 includes a pair of side framemembers 14 and 15 fabricated from vertical and horizontal bars, theupper ends of which are tied together by the transverse bow frames 16.

The open ends of the enclosure frame 13 are normally closed by a frontgate member 17 and a rear gate member 18. As best disclosed in FIG. 3,the rear gate member 18 is supported along one edge by hinge 19, and issecured in closed position along its opposite edge by a latchingmechanism 20. The front gate member 17 has the same construction as therear gate member 18. It is also within the scope of this invention toemploy only a single gate member, either the front gate member 17 or therear gate member 18, with the opposite end of the enclosure frame 13being permanently closed by a rigid end frame member, not shown.

Mounted for rotation in the base frame 12 is a head pulley 23 and a tailpulley 24 about which is trained the endless conveyor belt or treadmember 25. The head pulley 23 is driven through the sprocket-and-chaintransmission 26 from the motor 27, in such a direction that the top legof the belt member moves from front to rear, and forms the floor of theenclosure frame 13.

The open space within the enclosure frame 13 defined by the tread member25, the front and rear gate members 17 and 18, the side members 14 and15 and the overhead bow frames 16 is sufficient not only to receivehorses of different sizes, but also to permit the horses to performtheir training exercises.

The motor 27 is controlled through an electrical control box 28,preferably actuated through a remote control hand piece 29 with controlbuttons 30 (FIG. 1).

Mounted upon the front gate member 17 is the front pacer assembly 32,including a Y-shaped frame 33 supporting a pair of front pulleys 34 uponthe front leg of the Y-frame 33 and a pair of rear pulleys 35 rotatablysupported upon the rear leg of the Y-frame 33. A pair of take-up pulleys36 are confined to vertical linear movement in corresponding guidetracks 37 forming a part of the frame 33. Each take-up pulley 36 isbiased downward, not only by gravity, but also by coil spring 38. Afront pulley 34, a take-up pulley 36 and a rear pulley 35 are located inthe same vertical longitudinal plane on the left side of the machine,while their counterpart pulleys are similarly located in a verticallongitudinal plane on the right side of the machine. A left front cable40 or other flexible linear member, is trained about the left set ofpulleys 35, 36 and 34, terminating at its front end in a connection 41to a weight carrier 42 for receiving one or more weights 43 within avertical cylindrical weight guide 44.

The rear end of the left cable 40 is provided with a connector, such asa snap hook 45 (FIG. 2), for connection to a mating connector, such aseye-bolt 46 embedded in the shoe of the horse 10 (FIG. 1).

In a similar manner, a right front cable 40' is trained over the rightset of pulleys 35, 36 and 34, the front end of which is connected to aset of weights, identical to the weights 43, but contained within theright front weight guide cylinder 44'. The rear end of the right frontcable 40' is also provided with a snap hook 45' (FIG. 2) for connectionto an eye-bolt 46' (FIG. 1) embedded in the shoe of the right front hoofof the horse 10.

Mounted upon the rear gate member 18 is the rear strider assembly 48including another Y-shaped frame 49 similar in construction to theY-frame 33 of the front pacer assembly 32. Supported for rotation uponthe front and rear legs of the Y-frame 49 are a pair of front pulleys 50and a pair of rear pulleys 51, respectively. Intermediate pulleysidentical to the intermediate pulleys 36, but hidden from view, areconfined to vertical linear movement within the guide tracks 52. A leftrear cable 53 is trained about a lower rear pulley 54 rotatably mountedat the bottom of the Y-frame 49, then upward and over the forward pulley50, then beneath the intermediate or take-up pulley in the verticaltrack 52, then upward and over the rear pulley 51. The rear end of thecable 53 also terminates in a weight carrier similar to weight carrier42 for supporting the weights 55 within the weight guide cylinder 56.The front end of the left rear cable 53 is also connected by anyappropriate connectors, such as a snap hook and eye-bolt, similar tosnap hook 45 and eye-bolt 46, to the shoe of the left rear hoof of thehorse 10, the connectors being indicated by the reference numeral 58.

In a similar manner, the right cable 53' is connected to the right rearhoof by the connectors 58', and is trained over a set of right pulleys54, 50, the hidden intermediate pulley, and the rear pulley 51,terminating in a set of weights 55' within the weight guide cylinder56'.

In order to prevent the lower portions of the cables 53 and 53'extending between the horse's hooves and the lower pulleys 54 frombecoming entangled in the horse's rear feet, these cable portions extendthrough guide rings 60 mounted on the ends of padded arms 61, which arerigidly held to the opposed side frame members 14 and 15.

Thus, the rear strider assembly 48 is practically identical to the frontpacer assembly 32, with the exception of the addition of the lowerpulleys 54 and the guide rings 60 to the strider assembly 48.

In order to hold the horse's head at the proper angle, a head-set device65 is mounted on the enclosure frame 13, and is best illustrated inFIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5. The head-set device 65 includes a pair of verticalsocket columns 66 fixed to the opposite side frame members 14 and 15.Received within each socket column 66 is a yoke or arm member 67 havinga lower vertical portion 68 axially received within the socket column 66for vertical adjustment relative to the socket column 66. The yokemember also includes a laterally inturned arm portion 69, an angular armportion 70 and an upright or rein post 71. Disposed on the front of eachupright 71 and the angular portion 70 are a plurality of substantiallyvertically spaced rings 72. Each yoke member 67 is freely rotatableabout the vertical axis of its lower post portion 68 but this rotarymotion is limited by the attachment of the upper ends of the uprights orrein posts 71 to the side frame members 14 and 15 by the coil springs74. The front portions of the rein posts 71 are secured to an upper bowframe 16 in front of the head-set device 65 by means of the elasticlinear members 75.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8 a trainer rein 76 is provided witha plurality of longitudinally spaced rings 77 and a snap hook 78, orother appropriate connector, at its rear end. The front end of the rein76 is also provided with an appropriate connector, such as a snap hook79 for attachment to the bit 80 of the horse's bridle 81, halter or headharness. By first connecting the snap hook 79 to the bit 80, the rearend portion of the rein 76 is looped through one of the rings 72 on therein post 71, and the rear snap hook 78 is connected to the ring 77which will support the head of the horse 10 in the desired attitude,such as that disclosed in FIG. 1. Not only is the effective length ofthe rein 76 adjustable by means of the spaced rings 77, but the heightof the rein 76, and therefore the height of the horse's head, is alsoadjustable by means of the vertically spaced rings 72 upon the rein post71. The reins 76 are set to arch the horse's neck and to hold thehorse's head perpendicular to the ground or floor.

As the horse 10 exercises with the head-set device 65 in operativeposition, the movement of the horse's head will cause both reins 76, andthereby the rein posts 71 to reciprocate fore and aft against theresistance of the elastic linear members 75 and the coil springs 74. Thetension in the elastic members 75 and springs 74 may be adjusted by anydesired means.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, a resilient bumper or cushion 83 isfitted around a fixed vertical bar of the side frame 14, and is adaptedto resiliently resist the forward movement of the yoke member 67, whenthe portion 68 swings forward against the bumper 83. The bumper 83 thusprotects the mouth of the horse 10 when the horse pushes forward againstthe bit 80.

In order to adjust the width of the space within the enclosure frame 13for different size horses 10, and also to center the horse 10 within theframe 13, a pair of elongated padded side bars 85 are mounted on theinsides of the opposite side frame members 14 and 15. The end portionsof each side bar 85 is journaled within the bearing 86 upon the sideframe members 14 and 15 for swinging movement between upper positionsopposing each other and downward positions substantially flush againstthe insides of the side frame members 15. FIG. 9 discloses one of theside bars 85 supported in an upright position by a brace arm 87 havingone end journaled about the side bar 85, and the other end projectingthrough one of a plurality of vertically spaced apertures 88 within avertical column member 89. The projection of the end portion of thebrace arm 87 through a corresponding aperture 88 is limited by the stopflange 90.

In order to confine the horse 10 within the enclosure frame 13, a frontpadded restraining belt 92 is secured in front of the horse 10, as bestdisclosed in FIG. 1, between the opposite side frame members 14 and 15.Each end of the front restraining belt 92 is provided with a unique hookmember 93, best disclosed in FIG. 10. The hook member 93 is providedwith a large or primary bight portion 94 adapted to extend about halfwayaround the vertical column 95 forming a part of either of the side framemembers, such as the side frame member 15 disclosed in FIG. 10. The freeend of the bight portion 94 forms a secondary bight portion 95 in aplane at right angles to the plane of the primary bight portion 94, toenable the secondary bight portion 95 to extend substantially halfwayaround the horizontal attachment bar 97. As illustrated in FIG. 10, aplurality of vertically spaced horizontal attachment bars 97 are fixedto and project radially from the vertical post 95 and terminate inanother parallel vertical rod 98 to form a substantial ladder structure99. The vertically spaced attachment bars or rungs 97 permit optionalvertical connection for the hook member 93.

A rear restraining belt 100, which may be identical in construction tothe front restraining belt 92, is secured to the side frame members 14and 15 by hook members 101 identical in construction to the hook members93.

With the front and rear restraining belts 92 and 100 in place, the horseis confined to extremely limited forward and rearward motion. The rearrestraining belt 100 not only prevents the horse from backing up, butalso prevents the horse from being carried out the back gate as theconveyor belt or tread member 25 moves rearward.

A padded rearing strap or belt 103 extends across the horse's withersand is provided with hook members 104 identical to hook members 93.

In a similar manner, a padded kicking strap 106 extends across thehorse's loin or rump, and is also provided with hook members 107identical to the hook members 93. In order to hold the kicking strap 106in place, a connecting strap 108 extends longitudinally across the topof the back of the horse with its ends tied respectively to the rearingstrap 103 and the kicking strap 106.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an auxiliary rear constraining orsafety belt 109 provided with hook members 110 is connected to the sideframe members 14 and 15 and extends across the rear of the horse belowthe rear restraining belt 100 as an additional safety feature. Theauxiliary rear belt 109, being lower than the rear restraining belt 100prevents rearward movement of the horse if it should be of lesser heightthan the normal horse, or if the horse's rear feet get out from underhim so that the horse's rump might slip beneath the rear restrainingbelt 100.

All of the hook members 93, 101, 104, 107 and 110 are not only identicalin construction, but are also adapted to engage identically constructedladder attachment structures 99 and 111. The ladder attachmentstructures 99 extend vertically, while the ladder attachment structures111 extend horizontally.

The horse's head may also be secured in various positions and attitudesfor limited motion by a head-set apparatus comprising cross-tie strap114 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 7). One end of each cross-tie strap 114 has a snaphook 115, or other connector, for detachable connection to the horse'shead harness 81, such as the bridle bit. A snap hook or other type ofloop or hook connector 116 is formed at the opposite end of eachcross-tie strap 114 for connection to appropriate hook-shaped brackets117 (FIG. 7).

Several cross-tie straps 114 may be employed in the head-set apparatusto hold the horse's head in the desired attitude. The positions of twosuch cross-tie straps 114 are disclosed in FIG. 7. The connectors 116 ofstraps 114 could also be connected to appropriate connectors 117, notshown, on any portion of the bow frame 16, either in front of thehorse's head, or behind the horse's head, or both. Such cross-tie straps114 could exert tension upward on the horse's head, as well as forwardor rearward. The rear cross-tie strap 114 in FIG. 7 can also be attachedto exert rearward, and even downward, tension on the horse's head. Theversatility of the positions and combinations of the cross-tie straps114 in setting the horse's head is almost unlimited.

As best disclosed in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, an elongated padded striding bar120 is adapted to extend transversely beneath the horse and is providedwith square cross-sectional end portions 121 for resting incorresponding shaped, vertically spaced sockets 122. The verticallyspaced sockets 122 permit vertical adjustment of the striding bar 120for horses of different sizes.

Supported upon the rear side of the striding bar 120 are a right pulleyor sheave 123, a middle pulley 124 and a left pulley 125. As bestdisclosed in FIG. 5, a single flexible linear member such as the cable126 may be looped through the single middle pulley 124 and provided atits ends with connectors 127 for connection to complementary connectors,such as eye-bolts 58 and 58', in the shoes of the hooves of the horse10. Thus, as one rear hoof moves forward, it will pull the opposite rearhoof rearward through the interconnection of the hooves by means of thesingle cable 126 and middle pulley 124. The arrangement of the singlecable 126 through the middle pulley 124, not only teaches the horse tostride better, but also minimizes the hind legs spreading too far apart.Preferably, the single cable 126 is elastic so that it may yield underthe striding motions of the horse's hind feet, without hobbling ortripping the horse while he is learning.

Another arrangement for the striding bar 120 to perfect the striding ofthe horse, is the provision of a longer cable 128 for use with the leftand right pulleys 123 and 125. The cable 128 is also provided withconnectors 129 for connection to complementary connectors on the shoesof the horse's hind hooves, such as eye-bolts. The right connector 129is connected to the right shoe. The cable 128 is trained over rightpulley 123 on the striding bar 120, then over right pulley 130 fixed tothe right side frame member 15, and then over the top pulley 131suspended by an elastic member 132 from the overhead bow frame 16. Thecable 128 then extends down around the left side pulley 133 fixed to theleft side frame member 14, thence around the left pulley 125 on thestriding bar 120, and then to the left connector 129, which is securedto the left shoe. The cable 128 may be elastic, or inelastic, withsufficient elasticity being provided by the overhead elastic member 132.FIG. 4 illustrates cable 128 connected to the hind feet of the horse 10to teach the horse to stride.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a pair of pacer or over-stepping devices 135and 136 for attachment to the front feet of the horse 10, which may beused in lieu of the front pacer assembly 32 in order to teach the horseto fold and reach. Except for the fact that they are mirror images ofeach other, the construction of the pacer devices 135 and 136 areidentical. Accordingly, only the construction of pacer device 136 willbe described.

The pacer or pedal step device 136 includes a base plate 137 to which isfixed a laterally projecting journal housing 138 rotatably receiving thetransverse shaft 139 for free rotation about its longitudinallyhorizontal axis. Fixed perpendicular to the inner end of the trnsverseshaft 138 is a tubular housing 140 telescopingly receiving through oneend thereof, a foot-supporting rod 141. The foot rod 141 is biasedoutward through the open end of the housing 140 by a spring 142compressed within the housing 140 between the inner end of the foot rod141 and the closed end of the housing 140. Connected to the remote endof the foot rod 141 by a journal 143 is a foot support or pedal 144comprising a shoe adapted to be secured to the left front hoof of thehorse 10. One edge of the base plate 137 forms a vertical sleeve 145journaled about a vertical rod 146 fixed to the left side frame member14. The opposite edge of the base plate 137 is provided with laterallyprojecting bolt-and-nut connectors 147 adapted to be secured inoperative fixed position within one of the vertically spaced bolt slots148 in vertical angle bracket 149 fixed to the side frame member 14. Thebase plate 137 is disclosed in its fixed operative position in FIGS. 12and 13. In FIG. 1, the pacer device 136 is disclosed swung through 180°outside the side frame member 14 and disengaged from the bracket slots148, in its inoperative position.

FIGS. 14 and 15 disclose a gait synchronizing device 150 including afour-barrel housing 151 including a pair of top barrels or sleevesarranged above a pair of bottom barrels or sleeves, each barrel havingopen ends. The gait synchronizing device 150 includes a front legattachment member 152 consisting of a padded wire loop element 153 withthe front portion having additional padding 154, and adapted to fitaround the front leg of the horse. The rear portion of the loop element153 terminates in a pair of rearward projecting prongs 155 adapted to betelescopingly received within the top pair of barrels 151, and held infixed position by the keys 156 extending through registering apertures157 (FIG. 14).

A rear leg attachment member 160 includes a similar, padded, wire loopelement 161 having its rear portion covered with supplementary padding162, to fit around the rear leg of the horse 10. The front portion ofthe attachment member 160 includes a pair of forward projecting prongs163 adapted to be received in the pair of lower barrels or sleeves 151,and also secured in position by the keys 164 extending through theregistering apertures 165. Either or both loop elements 153 and 161 mayhave one side portion broken and hinged, or provided with detachableconnectors, such as 167 of the attachment member 160 in FIG. 15.

Depending from the bottom of the four barrel body 151 is a shaft 168journaled in sleeve 169 fixed to laterally extending swing bar 170telescopingly received in the sleeve 171. Depending from the sleeve 171is a journal shaft 172 rotatably and vertically received within a sleeve173 fixed to the side frame member 14. The shaft 172 may be verticallyadjusted within the sleeve 173 by means of the set screw 174. (FIG. 15).

To operate the gait synchronizing device 150, the front leg attachmentmember 152 is fitted around the front leg of the horse 10, asillustrated in FIG. 14, and the prongs 155 are inserted into the topbarrels 151 and secured in place by the keys 156. In a similar manner,the rear leg attachment 160 is fitted around the rear leg of the horse10 on the same side of the horse as the front leg to which theattachment member 152 is secured. The rear prongs 163 are then insertedinto the bottom pair of barrels 151 and secured in fixed position by thekeys 164. The longitudinal spacing of the front and rear leg attachmentmembers 152 and 160 may be adjusted by inserting the keys 145 and 164 inthe corresponding set of longitudinally spaced apertures 157 and 165 toaccommodate the longitudinal spacing between the front and rear legs ofthe horse 10. As the tread member 24 moves rearward, the horse's leftfront and rear legs secured in the device 150, as illustrated in FIG.14, move rearward together, and are also lifted and moved forwardtogether so that a gait is produced in which the left legs of the horsemove in the same direction simultaneously, while the right legs of thehorse also move in the same direction simultaneously.

When the gait synchronizing device 150 is not in use, and the legattachment members 152 and 160 are removed from the horse's legs, theentire device 150 may be swung outside the enclosure frame 13, with theswing shaft 170 completely removed from the housing 171, so that onlythe cylinder 173, vertical rod 172 and the swing sleeve 171 remain, asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4.

In the operation of the apparatus 11 for teaching a horse 10 aparticular gait, the horse 10 is led into the enclosure frame 13 througheither of the gates 17 or 18, and to the position illustrated in FIG. 1.The horse 10 is constrained to this position by means of the frontrestraining belt 92 and the rear restraining belts 100 and 109. Ifdesired, or needed, the bridle bit 81 may be connected by cross-tiestraps 114. A rearing strap 103 may be connected across the withers ofthe horse 10 and a kicking strap 106 may be applied across the loin ofthe horse and secured to the rearing strap 103 by the connecting strap108.

The head-set device 165 is swung into position across the back of thehorse, connected to the elastic members 74 and 75, and the trainer reins76 are slipped through the rings 72 and adjusted to the desired lengthby connecting the connectors 78 and 77. Snap hooks 79 are then connectedto the bit 80 of the bridle 81 to set the horse's head in the desiredvertical position with an arched neck. All four hooves of the horse areconnected to the various cables 40, 40', 53 and 53' of the pacer andstrider assemblies 32 and 48.

The motor 27 is then started by manually pushing one of the buttons 30,and the speed of the treadmill or belt 25 is controlled by pushinganother of the buttons 30. The weighted cables 40 and 40' will cause thehorse's front feet to overstep, or fold and reach, in order to attainthe desired overstepping of a walking horse. The weighted cables 53 and53' tensioned to pull straight backward cause the horse's rear feet tostride in an exaggerated manner. The weights of the rear striderassembly 48 are selected to cause each of the horse's rear feet,ultimately to stride forward a sufficient distance to overstep the fronttrack of the corresponding front foot, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

When desired, the pedal-type pacer devices 135 and 136 may besubstituted for the front pacer assembly 132.

Also, the gait synchronizing device 150 may be connected to the frontand rear left legs, while a similar gait synchronizing device 150 can bemounted to the right front and rear legs in order to obtain the desiredgait.

The side bars 85, are of course adjusted to accommodate the width of thehorse and to center him upon the tread member 25.

After the horse's training period is over, the head-set device 65 may bedisconnected by disconnecting the connectors 78 and/or 79, and/or theconnectors 115 or 117 of the cross-tie straps 114. In this manner, thehorse's bridle or head harness 81 is disconnected from the frame. Whenthe head-set device 65 is employed, the elastic members 75 and coilspring 74 are disconnected from the rein posts 71, and the arm or yokemembers 67 are swivelled about the vertical axes of the lower postportion 68 outward until they are out of the way of the horse 10 so thathe can be led out of either end of the enclosure frame 13.

It is also within the scope of this invention to remove the enclosureframe 13 with all the trainer attachments from the entire treadmillassembly and support the enclosure frame upon wheels as a draft vehicleconnected behind a truck or automobile. The same training can beeffected by moving the enclosure frame relative to the ground orroadway, with the same attachments and other elements above described,attached to the horse 10 to cause him to walk over the ground, whilemoving with the enclosure frame 13.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for training a horse comprising:a.an elongated enclosure frame for receiving a horse, said framecomprising opposed side frame members and front and rear ends, b. ahead-set device comprising an arm member and at least one linear member,each linear member having first and second end portions, c. meansmounting said arm member on said side frame member to project from saidside frame member transversely over a horse within said enclosure frameand behind the horse's head, in operative position, said mounting meansmounting said arm member for fore-and-aft movement with the horse's headrelative to said enclosure frame, d. first connector means detachablyconnecting each of said first end portions to the head harness worn by ahorse within said enclosure frame, and d. second connector meansdetachably connecting each of said second end portions to said armmember for holding the horse's head in a predetermined attitude.
 2. Theinvention according to claim 1 in which said linear member is flexible.3. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising biasing meansconnected to said frame and said arm member for normally resilientlyurging said arm member rearward against the pull of the horse's headthrough said linear member.
 4. The invention according to claim 3 inwhich said biasing means comprises an elongated elastic member havingone end connected to said arm member and the opposite end connected to aportion of said frame behind said arm member.
 5. The invention accordingto claim 4 in which said elongated elastic member is a coil spring ofpredetermined tension.
 6. The invention according to claim 4 furthercomprising a second elongated elastic member having one end connected tosaid arm member and the opposite end connected to a portion of saidframe in front of said arm member.
 7. The invention according to claim 1in which said arm member comprises an upright rein post, said secondconnector means comprising connector elements vertically spaced on saidrein post, each of said connector elements being adapted to bedetachably connected to said second end portion of said linear member.8. The invention according to claim 7 in which each of said connectorelements comprises a ring fixed to said rein post.
 9. The inventionaccording to claim 1 in which said mounting means for said arm membercomprises means on said side frame member for supporting said arm memberfor swinging movement about a vertical axis so that said arm member mayswing between an operative position transversely of a horse within saidenclosure frame and an inoperative position outward from said operativeposition.
 10. The invention according to claim 9 in which said swingingmounting means comprises a socket mounted on said side frame member,said arm member comprising a lower vertical post portion adapted to beswivelly received within said socket member, said arm member having anupper portion projecting transversely from said lower portion, saidsecond connector means being adapted to be connected to said upperportion of said arm member.
 11. The invention according to claim 10 inwhich the upper portion of said arm member comprises a laterallyinturned intermediate arm portion and an upright rein post projectingupward from said intermediate portion and offset from said lower postportion, said second connector means comprising a plurality of connectorelements vertically spaced on said rein post and adapted to be connectedto the second end portion of said linear member.
 12. The inventionaccording to claim 11 in which said arm member comprises a first armmember swivelly mounted on one of said side frame members and a secondarm member swivelly mounted on the opposite side frame member forswinging movement toward adjacent operative central positions over ahorse within said enclosure frame, said linear member comprising firstand second rein members operatively connected by said first and secondconnector means to the head harness of a horse and to the connectorelements on corresponding rein posts, respectively.
 13. The inventionaccording to claim 12 further comprising an elastic member connectingeach of said rein posts to portions of said frame behind said reinposts.
 14. The invention according to claim 9 further comprising bumpermeans on said side frame member in front of said arm member forresilient engagement by said arm member to limit the forward movement ofsaid arm member when pulled forward by the horse's head through saidlinear member.